What causes chickenpox?Chickenpox is caused by a virus, the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). VZV causes both varicella (chickenpox) and zoster (shingles). VZV is a member of the herpes virus family, similar to herpes-simplex virus.

How common is chickenpox in the United States?Because it is so easy to catch chickenpox, about 95% of adults in the United States have been infected. Until a vaccine became available, there were an estimated four million cases of chickenpox per year. Although 95% sounds like a big number, about 200,000 American adults born in any given year are susceptible to chickenpox.

How does chickenpox spread from one person to another?Chickenpox spreads from person to person by direct contact or through the air by coughing or sneezing. Chickenpox is highly contagious. It can also be spread by touching the fluid from a blister of a person with chickenpox, or from direct contact with a sore from a person with shingles.

How long is a person with chickenpox contagious?Patients with chickenpox are contagious for 1-2 days before the rash appears and continue to be contagious until all the blisters are crusted over (usually 6-8 days).

Is there a treatment for chickenpox?

Most cases of chickenpox in otherwise healthy children are treated with bed rest, fluids, and medications to control fever and itching. Children with chickenpox should NOT receive aspirin, because aspirin may increase the risk of Reye's syndrome (a rare and serious childhood disease that can be life-threatening). The recommended medication for fever control is acetaminophen (Tylenol®). Chickenpox may be treated with an antiviral drug in serious cases, depending on the patient's age,,health, the extent of the infection, and the timing of the treatment.

Varicella vaccine can prevent chickenpox. Most people who receive varicella vaccine will not get chickenpox.

Can you get chickenpox more than once?Most people become immune to chickenpox after having the disease. However, second cases of chickenpox do occur. The frequency of second cases is not known with certainty, but this appears to be an uncommon event.

If I think someone has been exposed to chickenpox, what should I do as a medic or corpsman?
If the person has had chickenpox or has been vaccinated, nothing needs to be done. A susceptible person (one who has never had chickenpox) should receive the chickenpox vaccine as soon as possible after being exposed to the virus (within three days, and possibly up to five days). There is evidence that the vaccine may prevent illness or reduce the seriousness of the disease, if given within this time frame. Even if the person was not infected with the chickenpox virus from the exposure, receiving the vaccination will prevent future disease.

How are chickenpox and shingles related?Both chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus. After a person has had chickenpox, the virus stays in the body permanently, inside the nerves. About 10% to 20% of people infected with chickenpox later develop the disease known as herpes zoster, or shingles. Symptoms of shingles are pain, itching, blisters, and loss of feeling along a nerve. Most cases occur in people older than 50, and the risk of developing shingles increases with age.

Can the vaccine protect you if you've already been exposed to chickenpox?Yes, it is 70% to 100% effective, if given within 72 hours of exposure.